- We must pull together – Oppdals

– We do not want to team up with Westport and then to just forget those who live in the municipality, says Tor Snøve, chairman and team leader in New York City Labour.

– The idea is that we should be one municipality to pull together, says Snøve.

He believes that the merger will not go without challenges, but in the long run mean Snøve that it will be worth it. Yes, he is convinced that it is actually necessary.

– There will be some decisions that will require political courage, and I do not ignore that it also becomes part rounds of discussions, but there are challenges we have to be willing to take.

– What decisions do you think will require most to?

– A reorganization of the units will come to being necessary. In addition, making decisions about future investments, and without that I think it will come immediately, but a new school debate will come, whether municipalities are merging or not.

– Several people have claimed that a merger will be a challenge for local democracy?

– Yes, it is I actually agree. But here it is up to each party to be conscious of one through a nomination process will ensure the whole municipality shall be represented.

important research groups

– Why is it so important to merge Oppdal and Rennebu?

– it will come to be increasingly greater competition for labor, and by joining forces and creating greater research groups will be easier for us to attract the workforce we want and keep the people we want in the different positions.

Both Oppdal and Rennebu will individually be too small in the future. We have to work together to tackle the challenges we are faced with in the future, believes Snøve.

– You talk about future challenges, but here keeps the government cards close to his chest – what challenges are it really talking about?

– the biggest challenge will be to facilitate so that we get communities and services that meet the requirements will be asked and expected in the future.

– In what areas can the two municipalities get the board out of a merger?

– Both Oppdal and Rennebu large larder. If we work together we can be even better in this area and maybe even not only produce raw materials, but getting to a major refinement of what we produce.

Furthermore, I believe that we have much to gain from mining operations . Here both municipalities long tradition, and with new technology, I am convinced that we are able to extract more from the mountains.

No one should lose their jobs

Moreover, it is the clear that we have much to gain from streamlining and merging of municipal agencies.

– What are they then going to lose their jobs work?

– We aim that no one should lose their jobs. If one looks closely at the work force we have today so are opportunities including natural attrition. This we will do without us to denounce people.

Games for Development

Snøve also believe that a merger will make it easier to lift themselves from it to only operate in the municipality to actually get more shoot ahead and possibly get financial leeway to develop and improve the services which the municipality is responsible.

– I think the joint chairmanship of the meeting showed how much good we can achieve if we work together. We had a good dialogue, and there were a lot of good that came on board. There was no one who was more or less important than others, and it is this form of cooperation and dialogue we must continue with, believe Snøve who are optimistic about a future partnership with Westport.